Clothespin



9 9- w. w. VANDER cLUTE 2,183,730

CLOTHESPIN Original Filed March 27, 1936 Fg'gba 3b INVENTOR WILLIAM W. VAN DER CLUTE a. W ATTOR Y Patented Dec. 19, 1939 'rEr rip CLOTHESPIN William W. Vander Clute, Elizabeth, N. J

Application March 27, 1936, Serial No. 71,273 Renewed May 16, 1939 5 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in clothespins and has for some of its objects to provide such a pin which is easier to handle and which has a comparatively long life. Other objects are to provide such a pin which is of simple construction and can be sold at prices comparable with conventional clothespins now on the market, and which are attractive in appearance, and the headpiece of which can be used for advertising purposes and to improve the appearance of the pin.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims, but the invention itself will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows an exploded view in perspective of one form of pin embodying my invention; Figure 2 is a perspective View of the assembled pin shown' in Figure 1; Figures 3a and 3b are sections showing modifications of a pin made according to myinvention at two stages during assembly; Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 3b; Figure 5 is a sectional exploded view of another form of pin embodying my invention, the side view of which is shown in Figure 6; Figures 7 and 8 show a vertical section and side view of another form of my invention; Figures 9 and 10 show a still further modification of my invention as does Figure 11, and Figure 11a shows a detail of construction showing a part of the assembly of the pin shown in Figure 11.

Referring to Figure 1 the flat elongated headpiece handle Nl which may be of wood, metal or composition is provided at the lower end with a pair of parallel slots H and I2. A pair of legs I3 and I4 stamped from resilient strip metal are provided with integral tongues l5 and I6 and slots I! and I8 are assembled by extending the tongue l5 of the leg l3 through the slot I! in the headpiece l and the slot H8 in the cooperatingleg I4,andextendingtongue l6 through the slot l2 in the headpiece ill and the registering slot 11 in the other leg E3, the tongues being bent over as shown in Figure 2 to secure the legs against the flat sides of the headpiece. The leg It may be provided with an offset portion or corrugation ii! for positioning the pin on the line or to allow for greater than customary thicknesses of clothes on the line.

In Figures 3a and 3b and Figure 4 the oppositely disposed legs are formed from a single strip of resilient material which is extended through a slot 2| in the headpiece 2D and bent down against the sides of the headpiece to form a U- shaped member providing resilient oppositely disposed legs 22 and 23, the U-shaped member being securedto the headpiece by means of the rivet 24.

In Figures and 6 the separate resilient legs 2"! are secured to opposite sides of the headpiece 25 by means of the rivets 28.

The form shown iii Figures '7 and 8 may be entirely of wood and may comprise a headpiece 3i), and legs 39 and 32 secured to the headpiece by means of the wire bonds 33.

In Figures 9 and the lower portion 36 provided with legs 31 and 38 is fastened to the headpiece 35 by means of bonds 39.

In Figure 11 the legs are secured to the headpiece it by means of a binding member 4| stamped from sheet metal and shown in perspective in Figure 11a.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention the headpiece may be of wood, metal or composition one-eighth of an inch thick and the legs may be stamped from resilient strip metal of a type which is light and free from oxidation from exposure to the elements. This may take the form of rustless steel or chromium plated metal. The legs may be slightly more separated at their free ends than at their point of attachment to the headpiece. A pin of this type is light, can

be cheaply made and is firmly held in position on the line when in use, is very durable and will not rust when exposed to the weather. Further the resilient metal legs will not split, crack or break. 7

While I have indicated thepreferred embodiments of my invention of which I am now aware and have also indicated only one specific application for which my invention may be employed, it will be apparent'that my invention is by no means limited to the exact forms illustrated or the use indicated, but that many variations may be made in the particular structure used and the purpose for which it is employed without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

- What I claim as new is:

1. A clothespin including a flat non-metallic headpiece of substantial area and a pair of spaced oppositely disposed resilient legs of strip metal lying flat against opposite surfaces of said fiat headpiece and secured thereto.

2. A. clothespin including a substantially flat non-metallic headpiece of substantial area and a pair of spaced oppositely disposed resilient legs of flat strip metal lying fiat against the opposite surfaces of said fiat headpiece, and means extending through said flat headpiece and contacting said legs for securing saidlegs to said flat headpiece.

3. A clothespin including a substantially flat non-metallic elongated headpiece of substantial area and a pair of spaced oppositely disposed resilient legs of fiat strip metal lying flat against the opposite surfaces of said flat headpiece at one end thereof and means secured to each of said resilient legs and extending through said headpiece and the other leg and contacting the other leg for securing said leg to said headpiece.

4. A clothespin including a substantially flat non-metallic elongated headpiece of substantial area and a pair of spaced oppositely disposed resilient legs of strip metal lying flat against the opposite surfaces of said fiat headpiece at one end thereof and each of said legs being provided with a punched integral tongue extending through said headpiece and the other leg and bent against the surface of said other leg for securing the legs to said headpiece.

5. A clothespin including a flat gripping member of substantial area and a pair of spaced oppositely disposed resilient legs, said legs comprising a strip of metal extending through said gripping member and bent to U-shape to lie against the opposite flat surfaces of said gripping member to provide a pair of oppositely disposed resilient legs and means to secure said strip of metal in place on said gripping member.

WILLIAM W. VANDER CLUTE. 

